Ditching-machine.



A. I. HOVLAND.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED 1141;.25, 190s.

Patented Mar. 23, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Mar. 23, 1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEET '2.

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A. I. HOVLAND. DITGHING MACHINE. APPILIGATION FILED MAB. z5, 190s.

A. I. HOVLAND.

DITCHING- MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 25, 190s.

wanted Mar. 23, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. I. HOVLAND.

DITGHDG HAGBINE.

APPLIoATIoH v$11.111) IAR. 25, 190B.

Patented Mar. 23, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' .cal sectional view fa ditching machine em- To all 'whom 'itmay concer/n: I

` ANTON I. novLANn, vor MARSHALL, MINNESOTA.

DITGHNG-M ACHINE.

. Specification of' Letters Patent.

resented March 23, 190e'.v

Application led March 26, 190.8. Serial No. 423,170.

Be it known that I, ANTONI. HovL'ANp, of Marshall', Lyon county, Minnesota, have invented certainA new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines, of which-the following is a specification.

'lhe object of my invention. is to providea ditching machine fory cutting a ditchl and laying the tile in marshy or swampy. landy vwhich ordinarily is too wet for cultivation.

A A furtherA object-is to, provide a machine that is ada ted for use in anykind of soilv and with W 'ch a ditch of any desired depth maybe Ycut havingthe necessary fall to carry oli the Water.

T he invention consists generallyin a ditch-- ingmachine having skids' and shoes therefor to adapt the machine .for use in soft marshy ground where a machine with wheels could not be successfully operated.`

Further, the invention consists inv reviding means whereby the operator ofl t e machine is able to vfollow accurately the surveyors lines and vary the de th of the ditch according to the'rise and fa lof the surface over which the machine is moving.

Further, the invention consists in ,providing an improved type of shovel or excavating device and an improved cleaningapparatus therefor. e p' Further,'the `invention consists in means adapted to prevent the'walls ofthe ditch from caving in between theY passage of the shovels and the laying of the tile.

Further, the invention consists invarious constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and' 'particularly pointed -outin'the claimde. I f

'In ythe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertibodyingm invention. vFig-.2 is aside elevation of te machine., Fig.- 3 is-a diagrammatic view-illustrating the machine atwork.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the machine. Fig. 5

' is afront view illustrating the side delivery portion ofthe machine.,illustratingthe'driving mechanism for the side-delivery carrier. Fig. 7 isa detail ,view'of the tilting frame carrier. Fig. 6 is a detail, side elevation of 'a whichcarries the excavatorbelt. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the belt illustrating the actionl of the shovel cleaner. detailview illustrating the manner of mounting theshovels on the belt. Figs. 10 and 11 Fig..9 is

`are additional detail views ofthe same. Fig. 12 is -a detail view illustratin the s osition assumed by the shovels and belt W en one of the shovels strikes a stone. Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view-of the device arranged in therear of the excavator belt to prevent' caving in of the walls of the ditch.

In the drawing, 2 represents parallel skids connected by cross bars 3 and 4 and provided `with shoes 5 having turned up nosev lates 6.

The shoes are arranged beneath t e skids and a series of links 7 inclosethe skids and are arranged at an incline to the horizontal, and are' pivotally connected to the tops of the skids land the tops of the shoes., and are capable of swinging. on their pivots to allow the skids 'to-,be raised a limited distance for the purpose ofleveling the machine when it is running over uneven orsideling ground.'

IAny suitable means maybe provided vfor raisin the skids off the shoesbu't I prefer 'to provi e screwsv 8 having nuts swiveled in guards 9 on the skids and adapted to bear at their lower ends in steps 10 on the shoes.. The skids and shoes' extend ,the entire len th of the machine 'and theshoes areof suita le width to present broad bearing surfaces on the ground and formsubstantialsupports and preventy the machine from sinking into the soft ground in wet or marshyplaces. Generally in machines of this'ty'pe broad faced. wheels are "employed lbut these have v I been fond unsuitable and yineiiicient to pre- .ve'nt' the machinefrom sinking'in the mud,

and inmanyA instance'sditch work has been abandonedowing to the fact that the wheeled machines, could not be operated.

The adjustment ofthe skids allows the'ma- Vchine to be leveled .as it moves along and kes' s the walls of the ditch substantially ver-- tica even where the machine is operating on.

very sideling ground. Upon'the skids an up i ht frame 11 is mounted. In'the for-.. war portion of this frame a transverse shaft 12 is journaled and upon -this shaft a rectangular frame 13 ismounted. A beam 1a s is attached tosaid frame. 13 between bolts 1.5, and by loosening the saidv bolts said frame and beam may be adjusted withrespect to one another. Rods 16 are attached at one end to thev frame 13 and at their op osite ends toa plate 17 that bears on the en ofthe beam 14, and when the bolts 15'are loosened the ends of .the rods 16 may be adjusted to obtainrelative movement of the' frame andand 12).

age or" breakage.

-beam and tighten the excavating belt. A

large whel 18 is mounted on one end of the beam 14 and has a hollow face- 19 that is adapted to receive a sprocket belt 20 which passes around asprocket wheel 21 centrally secured on the shaft 12. (see Fig. 7

A series of bails 22 are secured at regular n intervals`to'the sprocket belt 20 and flat plates 23 have end flanges 24 thereon which vare pivotally connected to the bails 22, and

links 25 pivotally connect the bails 22 with the outer ends ofthe plates 23 (see Figs.-8,v 11 Upon the plates 23 the excavating shovels or diggers are secured, preferab1yby bolts which willv allow the shovels'to be removed and others substituted in case yof darn- These shovels, as indicated in Figs. 9, 10 and11, have differently A shaped .cutting edges and arearranged in dierent ways on their supporting plates. For instance, in Fig. 9 a shovel 26 is illustrated having'a cutting edge on one side, the

rangement causes the distribution of the work among them, the forward shovels cutting out and carrying away a portion ofthe soil and those'that come after completin the work. The pivotal arrangement ofthe s ovels allows them to adjust themselves to anyobstruction in .the soil, as for instance, as illustrated in Fig. 12, shoulda shovel strike a rock its connection with the succeeding shovel will cause the chain to buckle and the succeeding shovel to be raised sufficiently to clear the obstruction or easily slide over it, and upon passing the rockthe shovel-willl drop down'into the soil again and each shovel carrying awaya portion of the soil the rock will finally be excavated and carried off also. -This flexiblev character Aof the chain and the pivotal arrangement of the shovels will prevent cloggin oflthe excavating devices in the ditch an reduce greatly the danger of breakage. y y

For the purpose of cleaning theshovels I' provide a p ate 27 secured to a rock shaft 28 that is supported in bars 29 on the machine frame'. arm -30 is mounted on said shaft anda s ring 31 is connected to said arm and `norma y holds the said plate inthe path of plate 27 Iv the shovels. In addition to the rovide a flexible strip 32, preferably of eather, secured at one end to-a cross bar 33 and at its opposite end to the plate 27. The

sheet is loose and flexible between its ends -the plate and clogging it.

,37 transverselymounted in the frame 11.

The next shovel 26 has a spear and when the mud accumulates on the scraper plate 27 and contacts with the ilexible sheet it will buckle under the pressure and dislodge the accumulation on the scraper plate and prevent it from adhering to This sheet or means for reventing the scra er plate from clogging, lpregard as a valua le feature of my invention as it is practically impossible to use a scraper plate in a wet or guinbo soil without clogging.

For the purpose of raising the excavator belt I provide a truss frame 34 secured to the beam 14 and carrying a sprocket wheel 35 that acts as an idle wheel and engages the upper run ofthe excavating belt. A cable 36 is attached to said truss frame and to a shaf l gear wheel 38l is mounted on said shaft 37 and meshes with a worm 39 on a rod 40 that extends lengthwise of the machine frame and is provided with an o erating Wheel 41. By turning this wheel the operator can raise or lower the beam 14 and the excavating belt accordin to the depth desired for the ditch.

The Weig t of the'beam 14 and the wheel 18 holds the excavator belt in its operating position and the plows in engagement with the soil.

It is desirable in a machine of'this kind to provide means in the rear of the excavator .belt to prevent the walls of the ditch from caving 1n prematurely.V I therefore rovi'cle a shoe 42 having a curved under sur ace adapted to rest and travel on the bottom .of the ditch, and provided with side plates 43 and a curved forward plate or share 44 with which the plates 43 having a sliding connection by means of slots and pins 45. A top plate 46 is provided, supporting a rod 47 havlng a threa ed upper end and a thumb nut 48, sald rod depending between the lates 43 and ivotally connected therewith y links 49.

y adjusting this rod up or down the lates 43 aremoved toward or frontrone anot 1er to adapt them for the width of the ditch. The contact of the plates 43 with the sides of the ditch will prevent it from caving in before the tile are laid. An lupright gage bar 50 is secured to the plates 43 and extends above the skids supporting the machine and is provided with a series of graduations bymeans of which the operator of the machine can accurately determine the depth of the ditch.

` The plates 43 are braced and held in parallel relation with one another by means of bars 5.1 and 52, the latter being secured at its upper end tothe gage `bar 50, the said plates an 'bars together forming a frame supporting the shoe 42 in the desired position with respect to the excavator belt. For the purpose of raising the shoe 42 I provide a screw 53 arranged to pass throu h a nut 54 on a bar 55 and having a threa ed connection at its lower end with the frame of the plates A43.

f The bar 55 is, pivotal-ly attached'tothe -rear i portion of said plates and is inclined upwardly therefrom and secured to a fork 56- that is ivotedon the upper portion of the machine ame. A cable 57 is attached'to saidy bar Aand extends. to ,a shaft 58 whereon a sprocket j wheel 59 issecured. -A belt Opasses around -said sprocket wheel to a pinion 61 having o erating crank 62. The operator by means of this crank'vcan adjust the plates 43 vertically according to the depth of the lditch and allowthem ,to assu-me the desired position the rear of the excavator vvheehz` A spout 63 preferably of vsheet metal, is secured to the rearportion ofthe plate frame and has a rearwardly 4curved portion 64 .adapted to lie u on the bottom of the ditch and `discharge t e sections of tile therein.

f stakes in ditching.

different levels followin 4o 'bottom of the ditch when formed, and evi- Vdentl'y ifsome means is provided to `follow these lines the operator can tell at a glance V These sections a're fed into the top ofthespout and. sliding down by gravity,`will as the machine .is moved alon pass out through the spout portion 64 an be laid end to endV along they bottom of the ditch. A vlevel 65 is mounted on an arm 66 that'is carried by the gage bar to enable the operator to determine when the shoe restsfsquarelyon the bottom oftheditch. y Y It is customary, preparatory to ditching-a piece of land to have a 'surveyor run a line and mark it off at intervals with a series of stakes, beginning with a water course. or other body of Water into which the ditch discharges4 i The operator of the machinefollows'the'se.

I have illustrated' diagrammatically in.

Fig. 3 the arrangement of the stakes indicated by letter S, between which lines indicated byletter L, are stretched. y These lines are on the variation in the height ojf the stakes', an are parallelwith the,

vwhether the ditchis provided with the proper fall 'and is du according .tothe surveyors, lines. With t is end in viewI ,provide abar- 67 pivoted at 68ona machine'fname and supported on a bar 69 Ythat'is pivoted. at- 7() on the beam 14 and is rovided with a series-of holes 71 at intervalst erein ada ted to receive a pin 72 which passes throu Y the bar 67.

- The bar 67 will-thus rise an fall lwith the beam 14 and maybe adjusted independently of said beam according to the height -of the surveyorslines. An arm 73I is mounted on the bar.67 and projects laterally ,on one side drop o fall sufficient to carry back into the trench and the Any suitable apparatus may-ibo provided forpropelling the machine. Horsepower is undesirable as horses-cannot'travel, generally "speaking, on the land that is beingditched.

iI therefore. mount an engine 75 on a `suitable base 76 and provide a capstan apparatuszof l common construction (not shownlby'means of which through the power of theengine'the machine andthe engin-e'wll be` drawn 'over j the ground. A driving belt 77 extends fromU the said engine to a pulleyr l78 on a shaf-.t 79 mounted in the frame of the machine.v One run of said belt passes under an idle pulley 80 mounted in standards 81 andA the upper run of the belt passes under an idle pulley 82 that is mounted-in vertically moving bear? ings'83 between said standards and has' the function of a belt tightener. Sprocket chains' 8 4 connect the shaft 79 with sprocket wheels 85 on the ends of the shaft 12 and form a driving connection for the excavatorbelt.

An inclined plate 86 is arranged beneath the upper portion of the excavator belt against which thenmaterial brought up by the shovels is discharged and gradually raised by the successive shovels to a trough 87 in whicha side deliverybelt 88 is' arranged to operate, said belt including shovels corresponding substantiallyv to those' already described with refer# ence to the excavator belt.

This side delivery belt is preferably driven as follows:

A sprocket wheel 89 is secured on the shaft 12 and connected by a chain 96with a shaft 91; W'hereon a beveledl gear 92 is secured, meshing with asimilar gear on a shaft 93. A sprocket chain 94 forms-a driving connection between-the shaft 93 and a' shaft 95 of the side delivery conveyer. This conveyer is of sufficient length to discharge the excavating material at one side of the machine and out of its path, and when the ditch is dug and the.

tile laid 'the excavated' material is thrown tionis completed;

,I claim' as my invention:v y y l 1. A ditching machine comprising a frame and an excavatingmechanism carried thereby,` skidsarranged parallel with one another an/d lvvhereon said frame and excavating Amechanism are supported, and means .for

maintaining thelevel of said machine on side# ling ground, substantially as described.

2. vA ditching machine comprising a frame, I; 'and -an excavating mechanism supported' thereby, skids whereon said frame and mechanism are supported, shoes for said skids and means for ralsmg said skids on said shoes to' maintain the level of the machine on sideling ground,-subs tantially as described.

excavating machine comprising a suitable frame, an excavating mechanismcarried thereby, skids -whereon said frame is mounted, shoes supporting said skids and pivotally connected therewith, and adjusting screws mounted in said'skids and adapted to ditching operap engage said shoes, and whereby the level of said skids with one anothermay be maintained to adapt the machine for use on sideling ground.

4. Ina ditchingmachine, the combination witha frame, of an excavating belt and a series of shovelssecured thereto, a shoe i adapted to move along the bottom of' the ditch-in the rear of'said excavating belt, and side plates provided above said shoe and securedat their lower ends thereto, and where- 'by the Walls of the ditch are lheld against caving-in, vand a tile spout provided in the rear of said plates and shoe, substantially as described.

5. In a ditching machine, the combination, with an excavating belt and a series of shovels mounted thereon, a shoe provided in the rear Vof said excavating belt, a curved plate arranged above said shoe, side-plates slidably connected with said curved plates to adapt them for ditches of different width, means foradjusting'said side plates laterally and a tile rspout provided in the rear of said shoe and plates.

6.' lIn a ditching machine, the combination,

-l with a frame, ofl=` an excavating belt and a series of shovels mounted thereon, avshoe adapted tol travel along Ithe bottom of the ditch in the rear of said belt, plates arranged .above said shoe, a gage bar carried by said plates and having suitablegraduations thereon, the lower end of said bar being near the #bottom of the ditch, means for raising and lowering said plates andsaid bar, and a tile spout mounte on said frame in the rearof said shoe and lates.`

7 In a ditclung machine, the combination,

with'a frame, of an excavating belt mounted therein and shovels provided at intervals on vsaid belt, a tile spout into which the sections of tile are deposited and fed into the bottom of the ditch as 4the machine moves along,

means interposed betweensaid spout and said excavating belt for preventing the Walls of the ditch fromcavingin after-the passage ofsaidbelt and before'the tile are laid, said means being laterallyadjustable to adapt the device for ditches of different width.

.8. In a ditching machine, the combination, with an excavating belt, of a series of shovels mounted thereon, said shovels vhaving differently shaped cutting edges, and some of i them having their cutting edges projecting laterally beyond .the corresponding edges of vcontiguous shevels, for the purpose specied. f

9. In a ditching machine, the combination, With/an excavatingbelt, of.a series of bails secured at intervals thereon, plates pivotally connected 4to said bails, shovelssecued on saidplates and links pivotally connecting adj'ol g bails and plates, for the purpose specied.

10. In a ditching machine, the

ltion, with an excavating belt, of bails secured at intervals thereon, plates pivotally mounted in said bails, shovels removably secured to said plates and having differently shaped cutting edges and irregularly arranged on said` plates whereby the cutting edges of succeeding shovels will gather up the material left by the preceding shove s, and means vconnecting the adjoinmg bails and plates.

11. Ina ditching machine, the combination, with an excavating belt, of a series of shovel blades mounted thereon said blades having cutting edges and being irregularly .arranged, and the rear blades gathering up` the material left by the forward blades, substantially as' described.

12. In a ditching machine, the combination, with an excavating belt, of bails secured thereon `at intervals, plates pivotally mounted on said bails, shovel blades secured to said plates, links connecting the adjoining bails and plates and a scraper blade having an edge in the path of said shovels, and the movement of said belt causing said shovels to contact with said blade and be held in enga ement therewith' by said links, substantia ly as described. v

13., In a ditching machine, the combination, with an excavating belt and a series of shovels mounted at intervals thereon, of a scraper blade arranged in the path of said shovels and a flexible sheet secured to said scaper blade and arranged to prevent the accumulation of the scrapings thereon.

14. In a ditching machine, the combination, with a suitable support, of ascraper blade mounted thereon, and a iiexible sheet vattached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said scraper blade, the intermediate portion of said sheet being capable of buckling or bending, for the purpose specian excavating belt carried b sai beam, a -bfa'r pivoted 1n said frame, a ar pivoted on vsaid beam and having a series of holes a predetermined distance apart,` and means for `adjustably connecting said first and second.

named bars with one another through said holes, and means for raising vand lowering said beam and bars, an arm provided on said irstjnamed bar and projecting laterally beyond the side of the machineand adapted to follow a cord stretched between the surveyors stakes, for the purpose s eciied.

17. In 'a ditching machine, t e combination, with a frame, of a beam pivoted at one end therein, a wheel mounted in said beam, an excavating belt carried by said beam and wheel, means for raising and lowering said beam and belt, and means connected with said beam and 'adapted to project laterally beyond the side of the machine and follow a cord stretched between the surveyors stakes.

18. In a ditching machine, the combination, with a frame, of a shaft 12 journaled therein, a frame 13 mounted at one end on said shaft, a beam 14 slidably-mounted in said frame 13, a wheel 18 carried by said beam, a sprocket Wheel 21 secured to said shaft 12, an excavating belt passing around said wheel 18 and saids rocket wheel 21, and means for sliding said eam 14 back and forth in-said frame 13 totighten saidexcavating belt or slacken vthe same. 19. In a ditching machine, the combination, with a-frame, of a shaft 12 mounted therein, a frame' 13 pivoted on said shaft 12,

' a beam 14 slidably mounted in said frame 13,d an excavating belt carried by said sha'ft an said beam, rods connecting said plate with j said frame 13 and said rods having adjusting nuts whereby said. beam can be moved lengthwise in said frame 13 to tighten said excavating belt. l

20. In a ditching machine, the combination, with a belt,y of a, series of-shovels mounted'thereon, a scraper .blade in the path of said shovels and means independent .of said4 bel-t' and arranged to hold each beam, a plate providedat one end of V tion, with an excavating belt, of a serie' of shovels pivoted thereon, and means connecting each shovelwith a succeeding one, whereby when a shovel stri es`an obstruction said belt will be bent and the succeeding shovel lifted, for the purpose speciiied.

23. In a ditching machine, the combination, with an excavating belt, of bails secured thereon, shovels pivotally supported on said secured to the middle portions of said plates,

others to the ends thereof, and some of the end shovels `having points projecting laterally beyond the corresponding points of' the other shovels, for the purpose speciiied.

25. In a ditchingmachine,.the combination, with a suitable frame, of anV excavating ,belt and means for raising and lowering -the same, and means capable of verticall adjustnient with said belt and projecting laterally therefrom .and adapted. to follow and rest upon a cord stretched between the surveyors stakes,.for the purpose specified.

26. In a ditching machine, the combination, with the frame, of an excavating belt provided witha series of shovels and operating atan incline in said frame, a transverse or side delivery belt, a' troughlin which said side delivery belt operates, and an inclined plate arranged beneath the upper portionv of the excavating. belt and upon which the material is delivered by said shovels and gradually raised to said troughandside delivery, belt. f

27. In a ditching machine, ythe combination, with an Iexcavating belt, a series of shovels mounted thereon, of a scraper blade in the path of said shovels and means arranged to prevent the accumulation of scrapings on said scraper blade.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of March 1908.

ANTON I. HOVLAND. 

